New twist to steel trader case: Killer turns up

Hyderabad: The murder of steel trader T Ram Prasad that took place on Saturday near the Panjagutta police station is taking several twists and turns.

While the investigation was progressing, T Shyam, who operates water plant in Vijayawada, entered into the scene and reportedly claimed responsibility of killing Ram Prasad along with three of his associates.

Initially, the family members of Ram Prasad, had suspected Koganti Satyam, once a partner of the steel trader, in the murder.

Interestingly, Shyam said that Satyam had no role in the murder.

Speaking to the media channels in Hyderabad, Shyam confessed that since he went to jail and incurred huge losses in business due to Ram Prasad, he hatched a plan to murder him.

According to Shyam, in 2013 V Srinivas, brother-in-law of Ram Prasad told him that a case was filed against Koganti Satyam and Shyam by Ram Prasad following which both of them had to go to jail for 13 days.

Shyam said one day a person came to him and told him that Srinivas wanted to meet him and took him to Visakhapatnam.

There he had met Bansal and Badri who had also incurred losses due to Ram Prasad. When he asked Srinivas about his money and cases Srinivas told him that if he kills Ram Prasad, he will get Rs 30 lakh.

As his family's economic status deteriorated, he developed personal grudge against Ram Prasad and decided to kill him. Shyam further told that 15 days ago he came to Panjagutta where Ram Prasad's office is located and closely observed the movements of Ram Prasad.

Later along with three persons, including a driver, Chotu and Ramesh, he stabbed Ram Prasad and absconded from the spot. He said they had planned to surrender before the police after killing Ram Prasad. But after the incident, the driver absconded and the other two accused Chotu and Ramesh left the place in panic.

Then he went to his water plant and brought both of them to Hyderabad to surrender before police in the presence of their advocate.

He also confessed that he prepared the three weapons used for the murder at his water plant which they dumped near to the incident spot.